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OHilly is back
Hello to all who have wished me good luck. I had my mastectomy and reconstruction on Feb. 21 and just got home from the hospital. I woke up with very little pain and still don't have much, which is amazing. Of course, the final path report (which was my biggest fear) has not come back yet, but the surgeon said the node…
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After bilateral Mast and chemo...what's next?
I had a bilateral Mastectomy March of 07 and finished chemo. I've had the reconstruction and coming up on my one year mark. I keep hearing where cancer has come back after 2-3 years. How do they determine this...what is the first sign? Is it protocal for them to do a Pet Scan at the one year mark? Can they tell from blood…
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Alternative Medicine
There was a fellow in my town who had colon cancer. They opened him up and said he was too far gone and sewed him back up. He was refused treatment. I guess his brother was into alternative medicine and had him start on some other treatments. He picked up about 4 things at the local health food store. I don't know what…
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Ohilly - Thoughts and Prayers
Today would you all take a moment to think about Ohilly. She has her mastectomy scheduled for 7:45 this morning and is scared to death. We've all supported her throughout her stuggle with decisions, her fears, etc. Today she needs our thoughts and prayers. So do all of the others of our sisterhood who are facing surgery,…
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path report/lympth nodes
Hello, group. I have been writing on this board ever since I was diagnosed in early January. I have invasive ductal carcinoma with a 1.8 cm tumor. The doctors felt under my arms and told me they didn't feel anything and they told me my tumor is small, probably Stage I. I decided to have a mastectomy and am supposed to have…
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Question about Chemo
My mom was just diagnosed this week with metaplastic spindle cell cancer of the breast. She is going to have the lymph nodes check this next week as well as the outer area sample taken of where they took the tumor out. If this comes out clean, do she still have to do chemo. If someone doesn't do chemo, will they die if the…
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Low Immunity
Hi, Have not been on this site in a long time. Had a mastectomy in 2000 with 20 lymph nodes removed with 4 nodes positive (this is before the sent node thing). Had the 6 months of chemo then radiation. For the newly diagnosed breast cancer girls, you will get through it, life does go on after treatment. about one year…
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prophylactic mastectomy
hi..I went to see my surgeon today..I will be having my right breast removed next month...but when he examined the scar from my left mast he noticed 2 new lumps...he is going to biopsy those also...anyone have this happen to them? talk about scared...Is this 3 strikes and I'm out??..thank you for listening
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tamoxifen
Hi everyone, I was wondering if there was anybody out there post menopausal on tamoxifen that a) has had vision changes and b) every so often feels like they are going to start their period. That heavy achy feeling. I've only started feeling that way since taking tamoxifen. They've done an endometrium ultrasound and…
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Newbie
Hello Everyone. I am new to this board. Spent much time on the ovarian board when my Mom was going through things. Now I guess it's my turn. My story is not as much sad as it is about hope. I had never had a mammogram in my entire life..I am 53. It just seemed that between working and being the family caregiver there was…
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prophylactic mastectomy/2nd breast
I am still in the throes of being treated for bc of my left breast (next week I will undergo a mastectomy), but true to my nature (I'm a worrier) I am already worried about the other breast. I just wondered: did anyone in the group undergo a second, prophylactic mastectomy at a later point after having treatment in the…
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Starting chemo while drains still in
A friend has now become a member of our club. She had a mastectomy 2 weeks ago and the oncolgoist wants to start the chemo while she still has the drains in. Like we've all experienced - she's getting all kinds of advice on waiting/not waiting. Have any of you heard of starting chemo while the post-op drains are still in?
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Mammosite
I wrote yesterday about brachytherapy. Mammosite is a form of this. I have had a few responses. If anyone has had experience with Mammosite, I would love to hear about this as an alternative to traditional radiation. Thanks.
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Brachytherapy
I was diagnosed last week with Stage 1 - I have a 2mm tumor in one area of my left breast. This showed up as calcifications on a regular mammogram and was thought to be Stage 0---DCIS. Now following the stereotatic biopsy and an MRI, I am facing a lumpectomy (and a sentinel node biopsy now) with radiation (and follow up…
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Knots In My Stomach
Hello. I was diagnosed with BC on Christmas Eve. I've been through Biopsy, Lumpectomy, Echocardiogram, Muga, and am still waiting for the start of Chemotherapy. For the past several weeks, I have been suffering from terrible knots in my stomach. I know they are from stress, and I've had a lot of stress as I am sure all…
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Lump Scares = Mastectomy?
Well as we all know after having invasive breast cancer we get to have those LOVELY check ups every three months for three years. At my checkups, it seems like they keep having 'lump scares' - one leading to an aspiration and several leading to followups as well as your hurry up and wait 'we'll see what happens' plan of…
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HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!
Love Is... Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. - Corinthians…
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self love
This is just a thought I wanted to share that maybe you have had too. My work asked us to bring a picture of ourselves when we were little. So I hauled out the old photos to pick one out. As I looked through my life in pictures I was at first struck with sadness. Look at that little girl, me, how unfair that she should…
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How to dance in the Rain....
How To Dance In The Rain > It was a busy morning, about 8:30 , when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. > I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to…
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Sisterhood Gift
Dear Sisters, The gift each of you give of yourself by chatting on-line, writing responses on the message board, writing emails, sharing your own emotions, strengths, weaknesses have all been a gift to each of us. For all those survivors that keep in touch over the years, it is a total inspiration to us that are new. We…
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Broken out in hives
I've been a really good sport for almost ten months now, but my patience is wearing thin...I have had 5 months of chemo, a bilateral mastectomy with expanders put in, and 6 weeks of radiation. There was a build up of fluid around the radiated expander which ended up in having to have the expander removed. Now, I have one…
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Chat Room TONIGHT!!!!
remember to come! 9pm est and I forget the difference in others..sorry :( west coast I think is 6pm, then there is a 8pm hope this helps.
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Heading up on the roller coaster
I wanted to thank so many of you for responding to my other message. I know that even though you might not have written, I have felt everyones caring and understanding, and....support. Thank you so much for thinking of me and writing. To be honest, I have been so exhausted and down but I have been feeling so many hugs from…
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Breast Cancer Site
Hi everyone, I just received this email and wanted to share it with you. I'm going to pass it on to friends and family because as I understand it while our mammograms are covered for everyone, there are women in the U.S. that can't afford one. I do hope this helps them. jan * I * 6 * Y Please tell ten friends to tell ten…
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Thank You All
I just want to thank all of you who have responded to my postings and/or emailed me. I start my chemo tomorrow and I'm ready. You've all given such great tips and such fantastic encouragement that I'm going to face this thing head on and fight my way through. Thanks again for being there. I really appreciate it.
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reconstruction recovery time
I have gotten a few email replies in my mailbox, but I wanted to ask the group (those of you who had TRAM Flap reconstruction): how long did it take for you to be able to sit and stand after you had the procedure, even with some discomfort? I am concerned about the lengthy recovery time because I have my own business and…
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recovery time/mastectomy/lattimus flap
I am going to have a mastectomy and then immediate reconstruction (I know I am not spelling this correctly, but it's the lattimus dorsal flap with skin sparing mastectomy - they told me it's a new procedure involving using the outer skin from the breast, inserting an implant, and then taking some skin from my side). Does…
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recovery time/mastectomy/lattimus flap
I am going to have a mastectomy and then immediate reconstruction (I know I am not spelling this correctly, but it's the lattimus dorsal flap with skin sparing mastectomy - they told me it's a new procedure involving using the outer skin from the breast, inserting an implant, and then taking some skin from my side). Does…
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Shortened Life
I guess I am just feeling blue but in my bones I feel I don't have much time. Yes, I have received blood results that don't look good but that is not it. I guess I am just on the down swing of the roller coaster and toooo tired to chug up the hill. I have received so much support from the chats and the message boards. It…
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Ixempra
I have been told that I am going to start a new treatment called Ixempra. It is a new drug and I was wondering if anyone has used it and what to expect from the side effects. Thanks